Twyla Dawn Basil, Fentanyl Distribution, Idaho 2022

Bonners Ferry Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Overdose Death

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – Twyla Dawn Basil, 46, of Bonners Ferry, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and death.

Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered that Basil pay restitution to the family of the victim. Upon completion of her prison sentence, Basil will also be required to serve an additional three years of supervised release.

According to court records, on October 28, 2022, an inmate at the Boundary County Jail was found unconscious in her cell. Despite attempts to revive her by medical personnel, the victim ultimately died. A toxicology report and autopsy showed that the victim had a lethal dose of fentanyl in her system at the time of her death. The coroner ultimately determined that she died of a fentanyl overdose.

Local, state, and federal officers began an immediate investigation into the victim’s death. Jail staff learned that shortly before the victim was found dead, Basil, who was in custody with her, had provided the victim with fentanyl she had smuggled into the facility. Basil had been arrested the day before for driving while under the influence of fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Pharmaceutical fentanyl was developed for severe pain management and prescribed in the form of transdermal patches or lozenges. While prescription fentanyl can be diverted for misuse, most cases of fentanyl-related overdoses in the U.S. are linked to illegally made fentanyl that is sold through illicit drug markets for its heroin-like effect.

Idaho has seen a massive influx of these pills in the last several years. Often, the pills are mass-produced by criminal drug networks and falsely marketed as legitimate prescription pills. The pills are made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and alprazolam (Xanax); or stimulants like amphetamines (Adderall). Criminal drug trafficking networks also increasingly distribute illicit fentanyl in powder form. In addition to cases in which fentanyl powder is consumed on its own, authorities have found fentanyl powder mixed with other street drugs.

Basil was charged with distribution of fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury and death. She was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her involvement in the fentanyl overdose death. The case highlights the dangers of fentanyl and the need for continued efforts to combat its distribution and use.

U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Idaho State Police and the North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement (NINE) Taskforce for their thorough investigation on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryce Ellsworth prosecuted the case.

The NINE Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional group of law enforcement officers working together to target drug trafficking in North Idaho. The task force is comprised of agents and officers from the Idaho State Police, Coeur d’Alene Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Border Patrol, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the National Guard Counter Drug Program.

Basil is currently serving her sentence at a federal correctional facility. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of fentanyl and the need for continued efforts to combat its distribution and use.

This case is a reminder that fentanyl is a deadly substance that can have devastating consequences. The Idaho State Police and other law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to investigate and prosecute those who distribute fentanyl and other illicit substances.

The family of the victim has been offered restitution as part of Basil’s sentence. The exact amount of restitution has not been disclosed.

The case is a result of an investigation by the North Idaho Narcotics Enforcement (NINE) Taskforce and the Idaho State Police. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

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